ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relation ship of estrogen receptor 2 gene (ESR2) polymorphism associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) in Chengdu of China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method, the Rsa I polymorphism in exon 5 and the Alu I polymorphism in exon 8 of ESR2 were detected in 100 pregnant women with ICP (ICP group) and 100 normal pregnant women (control group) in Chengdu.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The frequency of the allele A of Alu I polymorphism in exon 8 was significantly higher in ICP group than in control group (P=0.031, OR=1.975), so did the frequency of the Aa+AA genotypes (P=0.028, OR=2.144). (2) The genotype distributions (rr, Rr and RR) and allele frequencies (r and R) of Rsa I polymorphism in exon 5 were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Alu I polymorphism in exon 8 of ESR2 may be associated with the susceptibility of ICP in Chengdu. The Aa+AA genotype significantly elevated the risk suffering from the ICP. The Rsa I polymorphism in exon 5 of ESR2 is not associated with the risk getting the ICP in Chengdu.</p>